Looking for a blue-ribbon winner for its grandstand lineup, the State Fair has landed one of the biggest music names of all time – Aretha Franklin. The Queen of Soul will make her grandstand debut on August 22.
The fair also announced the lineup for the third annual MN Music on a Stick on Aug. 30: Brother Ali, Doomtree, Bob Mould, Cloud Cult, Har Mar Superstar and the Cactus Blossoms.
Aretha, 72, is known for having a fear of flying. She has only six other performances listed on her summer itinerary, including state fairs in Wisconsin and Ohio and the Blue Note Jazz Festival in New York City.
The Rock Hall of Famer last performed in the Twin Cities in 2011 at Mystic Lake Casino. She last released an album in 2011 but is reportedly working on a project interpreting songs made famous by other divas. Babyface, Danger Mouse and Clive Davis are producing.
Aretha tickets, priced at $45, will go on sale at 10 a.m. Saturday. MN Music on a Stick tickets, priced at $30, will go on sale at noon Saturday. The outlets are mnstatefair.org, etix.com, 1-800-514-3849 and the State Fair box office from 10 a.m to 1 p.m. Saturday.
The fair still has not announced its grandstand act for opening night, August 21.
